Frank looked out of the window above the spring and was also silent.
I was disposed to put off the lighting of our fire upon the roof as
long as it appeared safe to do so, in order to husband our fuel. The
animals, disappointed of the forage usually furnished them at this
hour, stamped impatiently and nosed disdainfully the stale straw and
pine plumes which we had emptied from the bunks and which were now
scattered over the floor.
It was during a momentary lull of this continuous noise that I heard a
crushing sound as of a heavy wheel rolling over twigs and gravel, but
was unable to guess its meaning.
Fearing that further delay to light our fire might bring disaster upon
us, I told Corporal Frank to kindle it. He ascended the chimney,
lighted a few splinters of pitch-pine and placed them upon the roof,
and as soon as they were well lighted added to them half a dozen
billets of wood which Sergeant Cunningham passed up to him. Soon a
brilliant blaze was leaping upward, and, being reflected strongly by
the white sandstone of the overhanging cliff, lighted the whole space
about the cabin.
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